The Solemnity of the Ascension














"And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain... But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep." -  Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:14-20




"What do atheists believe happens when we die? You are just no longer there..." - Hemant Mehta, FriendlyAthesist.com




"Christ in his human body is leaving the world for the last time...The Ascension is the final leg of the Paschal Mystery: Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension into heaven (as mentioned in the Eucharist Prayer of the Mass). It is not until Jesus ascends and returns to His Father that His act of Redemption is completed." - CatholicCulture.org



"In the silence of the heart, you speak..." - Audrey Assad





Fr Barron comments on Why the Ascension of the Lord Matters - Word on Fire




The Ascension of Christ Gives us Joy and Confidence





Psalm 108.1




Published 05.29.2014.  Updated 05.07.2016
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Who is Jesus?




Fr. Robert Barron



"Belief in Jesus, as God [is a] myth"

Atheists are called to "Make the decisions for the rest of your lives."

For, if the dead are not raised, neither is Christ; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is pointless and you have not, after all been released from your sins.  In addition, those who have fallen asleep in Christ are utterly lost. If our hope in Christ has been for this life only, we are of all people the most pitiable... If the dead are not going to be raised, then let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall be dead.
I Corinthians 15:16-19; 33

Even when we have everything, we have a deep awareness that points to the need for more.
The New Atheists, Fr. R. Barron


Pierced for Our Transgressions

"We've been able to reconstruct the text of the The New Testament with about 99% accuracy... It is the best attested book in ancient history."
William Lane Craig: The Evidence for Jesus' Resurrection, 2011. 1:27:25.

"The fact of Christ's Resurrection is attested by more than 500 eyewitnesses, whose experience, simplicity, and uprightness of life rendered them incapable of inventing such a fable."
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  New Advent.









"On Good Friday, the entire Church fixes her gaze on the Cross at Calvary.  Each member of the Church tries to understand at what cost Christ has won our redemption...[W]e contemplate our own death to sin in the Death of our Lord" (Catholic.org).

Paraclete Press



Updated: 04.02.2015; 03.19.2016
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Jubilee of Mercy






Pope Francis during the general audience explains why he convened the Jubilee of Mercy


"Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly
Father, and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him. Show us your face and we will be saved...[read more ]"
- Prayer of Pope Francis for the Jubilee




"We should not stop praying for [dialogue among religions] and with those who think differently" - Pope Francis


Resources
  • Can You Forgive? Do you know how to forgive others and yourself? - Psychology Today
  • Confession
    • The Practical Wisdom of St. John Vianney: "Confession Part 1 and Part 2"

Apps / Tech.


"Find the strength to embrace God's Mercy..." - Cardinal Donald Wuerl









RealMenPrayTheRosary.org


Transformation: High schoolers, college students, graduates...
10,000 lives changed - Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS)



"Great God Almighty, He done changed me..." - MercyMe (Lyrics)




Who is this child? He is God!


O great mystery,
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the new-born Lord,
lying in a manger!
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear Christ the Lord.
Alleluia!





"Jesus compels a choice, in the way no other founder does...[The claims of Jesus] are the unique treasure of Christianity...If Jesus is who he says he is, I must give my whole life to him..." (Robert E. Barron).








"We hold on to things outside of us instead of concentrating on what is within that keep us noisy and agitated. We run from experience to experience like children...and  wonder how serenity has eluded us... Dwelling on inessentials and, worse, filling the minds of others with them distract from the great theme of our lives.  We must learn to distinguish between what is real and what is not" (J. Chittister, The Rule of Benedict: A Spirituality for the 21st Century, p. 290).


Published 12.24.2012
Republished 12.24.2013; 12.24.2014; 01.03.2016



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Thankful





















Dare to be an Evangelist - Patrick Sullivan




Resources

  • Application for Life
    • iMissal - An app to edify your faith for life.  "Whether you are a Priest, Deacon, Lector, RCIA Candidate or Parishioner, iMissal has something for you!"
    • The Complete Rosary (R. Kochis)


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Just War Theory and Contemporary Application


















"Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."  — Nelson Mandela, Former President of South Africa 


















The medical, environmental,
and humanitarian consequences of nuclear war



Saving Children from Scourge of War (University of California Television)



TAPS Good Grief Camp Helps Children




Tallulah Rendall - We Don't Want War Anymore - In aid of the Child Refugees Of War



CordBands.com

Real Men Pray the Rosary


Resources


Loss of Human Dignity











Planned Parenthood and the Loss of Human Dignity


"Since it must be treated from conception as a person, the embryo must be defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed, as far as possible, like any other human being." - Catechism of the Catholic Church, par. 2274



National Catholic Bioethics - Why is the Church Opposed to Abortion?



Alexander Tsiaras: Conception to birth -- visualized



Resources


Human Trafficking and Slavery












Center for Human Trafficking Awareness

"Human Trafficking is A Plague on Humanity" - Pope Francis


“Out of the Darkness”
Refugees, immigrants, human trafficking victims find themselves trapped
Catholics invited to participate through prayer, action - USCCB


Fast Facts



Human Trafficking


  • Human Trafficking in the News - A Catholic Perspective - Catholic.org
  • International Meeting of Pastoral Care for the Liberation of Women on the Street - Vatican.va
  • In the United States, "people are being bought, sold, and smuggled like modern-day slaves." - Federal Bureau of Investigation
  • Living in the shadows: Religion's response to human trafficking - CBS News
  • Survey: How many slaves work for you? - MadeInAFreeWorld.org
  • "There are 27 million slaves in the world today.." - FreeTheSlaves.net
  • "Traffic of human beings is a $10-billion growth industry" - Catholic Relief Services
  • United States: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
  • USCCB Anti-trafficking program staff at 202.541.3357 - USCCB
  • College Students Across All Majors Strive to End Human Trafficking - Today's Catholic News



Human trafficking is dependent upon
the generous donations of silence and inaction. ~ E.L.D.




Break My Heart, by Jonny Diaz
Published 09.21.2011
Updated and Republished 01.03.2014; 04.18.2015
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Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
















"Today...[L]et us commemorate the Lord’s entry into the city for our salvation, following in his footsteps, so that, being made by his grace partakers of the cross, we may have a share also in his Resurrection and in his life." - www.CatholicPhilly.com





Resources
Noteworthy


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Common Core










Resources
Books





"As those first responsible for the education of their children, parents have the right to choose a school for them which corresponds to their own convictions. This right is fundamental. As far as possible parents have the duty of choosing schools that will best help them in their task as Christian educators. Public authorities have the duty of guaranteeing this parental right and of ensuring the concrete conditions for its exercise." - Catechism of the Catholic Church





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